Panel size confuses a lot of homeowners. A salesperson says you need 200 amps. A neighbor swears 100 is plenty.
So who is right? The honest answer is that it depends on your home.
Let us break it down in plain words, with no upsell.
What amps actually mean
Amps measure how much power can flow at once. Your panel is rated for a top number, like 100 or 200.
Think of it like a water pipe. A wider pipe lets more flow through without a drop in pressure.
Run too much through a small panel and breakers trip. Push it harder and parts can overheat. That is the risk we watch for.
When 100 amps is still enough
A 100-amp panel is not automatically a problem. Plenty of homes run fine on one for years.
It often works for a smaller home with gas heat, a gas range, and a gas water heater. Those big loads never touch the panel.
If your breakers rarely trip and you have open slots, you may be fine. We will tell you that straight, even when it means no sale.
Signs you have outgrown 100 amps
Homes change. New gear gets added year after year. Here are the signs a 100-amp panel is maxed out.
Breakers trip on a normal day
You run the microwave and the AC and a breaker flips. That is your panel saying it cannot keep up.
The panel has no open slots
Every space is full. There is nowhere to add a new circuit. That blocks almost any upgrade you want to make.
You are adding a big load
An EV charger, a hot tub, or a pool pump each pulls serious power. A 100-amp panel often cannot spare it.
You are remodeling
A new kitchen or an added room needs fresh circuits. Our remodel wiring almost always asks more of the panel than the old rooms did.
Why 200 amps is the new normal
Most new East Valley homes ship with 200-amp panels. There is a good reason for that.
Modern life plugs in more than ever. EV chargers, home offices, smart systems, and heavy AC all draw at the same time.
A 200-amp panel gives you headroom. It carries today's loads and leaves room for what you add next. For most homes, it is the safe long-term pick.
Do you ever need more than 200?
Sometimes. A very large custom home can call for a 400-amp service. Think big square footage, a casita, a shop, and a pool.
That is the exception, not the rule. A load calculation tells us for sure, so no one guesses.
How we decide, without the guesswork
We do not size a panel by eye. We run a load calculation on your real home.
We add up your heat, cooling, appliances, and any new gear you plan to add. That math points to the right size.
Then we give you a written price before any work starts. Most panel upgrades run between $1,500 and $4,000, and we tell you the number upfront.
Not sure which one you have?
Open your panel door and look for the main breaker. The number stamped on it is your service size.
Not comfortable checking? That is fine. We handle panel upgrades across Queen Creek, Gilbert, Mesa, and the East Valley.
Call Garrison at (480) 283-5007 or Josh at (480) 749-1384. We will check your panel and give you an honest answer.
